Inderjit S
09-28-2004, 01:30 PM
Here is a article I wrote for my sister's newsletter (directed at the local Asian population) on why Asian's do not donate organs etc.
Anyhow, I thought it would be nice to discuss organ donation-are there are any people on the donor list here? What do you think of it? Are you for/against it? Why? Thanks. Is there an organ donor crises in your country? What about selling your organs-should it be legalised?
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ARTICLE
The issue of organ donation has become something of a taboo within the Asian community, which is ironic, given that such an important issue should be discussed in length. Let me list a few facts for you. Asians make up 50% of the organ donor waiting list, yet we donate just 0.8% of the organs-we are also far more likely to suffer from kidney disease and renal failure. So why the lack of Asian donors? If there are so many Asian people on the donor list then surely there should be a lot of organ donors? But the stats speak for themselves-the number of Asian donors compared to the number of Asians on the donor list is disproportionate-and we desperately need to do something about it.
So what stands in our way? Ignorance and prejudice. Ignorance and prejudice based on culture and religion. Many Asians feel that their specific religion does not allow organ donors. But such a view is wrong. Although violation of the human body forbidden in Islam, critics fail to discuss the circumstances. Given that there is nothing more noble and beautiful then saving another person’s life, then surely being a organ donor is not a ‘violation’ of the human body, but the utilisation of the human body for the good of others. The Muslim Council also issued an edict stating that donating organs was perfectly acceptable, though many Muslims live in ignorance if this edict.
Some Hindu’s think that having your organs removed will be detrimental to your chances of a good re-incarnation. Such a view is a fallacy. No Hindu scriptures state the above and it just a product of cultural misconceptions. Donation is a form of ‘daan’ (selfless giving) and given that the Hindu scriptures propagate the idea of charity, then Hindu’s should look to their scriptures as guidance, rather then a set of distorted social norms, and given the fact that their scriptures in no way ban the giving of organs after death, then Hindus have no barrier except for their own prejudice.
Sikh and Hindu scriptures also state that the body is not re-incarnated, whereas the soul is, and thus the soul is the most important thing. Thus the body is like the clothes we wear to keep us warm (and fashionable) and so, like our clothes, parts of our bodies can be dispensed with to help others. Given that the Sikh Guru’s taught us that charity and helping the less fortunate were important ways to better ourselves, then Sikhs should jump at the chance to become organ donors, since after death they will be using their bodies to help less fortunate people, to help people live and love-and is there any act nobler then that?
Your bodies will also be treated with the utmost respect, and your body will not be deformed at your funeral, so you need not worry about such things. Muslims will be able to be buried as planned, and Hindus and Sikhs cremated. So, I have gone over all the reasons for being an organ donor-you will be helping other people, your religion does not prohibit it and your body will be treated with respect and being an organ donor will not affect your funeral procedures. So, do the right thing-become a organ donor today-there are a lot of Asian people waiting for organs out there, and if you can help them after death by donating some of your organs then go for it. You have nothing to lose but your ignorance and prejudice.
Anyhow, I thought it would be nice to discuss organ donation-are there are any people on the donor list here? What do you think of it? Are you for/against it? Why? Thanks. Is there an organ donor crises in your country? What about selling your organs-should it be legalised?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTICLE
The issue of organ donation has become something of a taboo within the Asian community, which is ironic, given that such an important issue should be discussed in length. Let me list a few facts for you. Asians make up 50% of the organ donor waiting list, yet we donate just 0.8% of the organs-we are also far more likely to suffer from kidney disease and renal failure. So why the lack of Asian donors? If there are so many Asian people on the donor list then surely there should be a lot of organ donors? But the stats speak for themselves-the number of Asian donors compared to the number of Asians on the donor list is disproportionate-and we desperately need to do something about it.
So what stands in our way? Ignorance and prejudice. Ignorance and prejudice based on culture and religion. Many Asians feel that their specific religion does not allow organ donors. But such a view is wrong. Although violation of the human body forbidden in Islam, critics fail to discuss the circumstances. Given that there is nothing more noble and beautiful then saving another person’s life, then surely being a organ donor is not a ‘violation’ of the human body, but the utilisation of the human body for the good of others. The Muslim Council also issued an edict stating that donating organs was perfectly acceptable, though many Muslims live in ignorance if this edict.
Some Hindu’s think that having your organs removed will be detrimental to your chances of a good re-incarnation. Such a view is a fallacy. No Hindu scriptures state the above and it just a product of cultural misconceptions. Donation is a form of ‘daan’ (selfless giving) and given that the Hindu scriptures propagate the idea of charity, then Hindu’s should look to their scriptures as guidance, rather then a set of distorted social norms, and given the fact that their scriptures in no way ban the giving of organs after death, then Hindus have no barrier except for their own prejudice.
Sikh and Hindu scriptures also state that the body is not re-incarnated, whereas the soul is, and thus the soul is the most important thing. Thus the body is like the clothes we wear to keep us warm (and fashionable) and so, like our clothes, parts of our bodies can be dispensed with to help others. Given that the Sikh Guru’s taught us that charity and helping the less fortunate were important ways to better ourselves, then Sikhs should jump at the chance to become organ donors, since after death they will be using their bodies to help less fortunate people, to help people live and love-and is there any act nobler then that?
Your bodies will also be treated with the utmost respect, and your body will not be deformed at your funeral, so you need not worry about such things. Muslims will be able to be buried as planned, and Hindus and Sikhs cremated. So, I have gone over all the reasons for being an organ donor-you will be helping other people, your religion does not prohibit it and your body will be treated with respect and being an organ donor will not affect your funeral procedures. So, do the right thing-become a organ donor today-there are a lot of Asian people waiting for organs out there, and if you can help them after death by donating some of your organs then go for it. You have nothing to lose but your ignorance and prejudice.